President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Canada on July 1 for his first official visit overseas and his third visit overall since assuming office on May 20.
Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska will stay in Canada until July 3. The president will take part in the third Ukraine Reform Conference, a major international conference on Ukraine’s future, held in Toronto on July 2-4.
Canada has one of the largest Ukrainian diasporas in the world.
This is Zelensky’s third official foreign visit after a trip to Brussels in early June, where he met with European Union and NATO leaders, and a visit to France and Germany on June 17-18.
In Canada, Zelensky will meet Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He is also scheduled to meet with Kurt Volker, the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations.
Additionally, Zelensky will have meetings with Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European commissioner for internal market and services, and the leaders of the Ukrainian World Congress and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
According to the Facebook page of the president’s office, Zelensky will also take part in a commemoration ceremony for victims of the Holodomor, the 1932-1933 Soviet manmade famine in Ukraine, and meet with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Canada.
On the morning of July 3, Zelensky will deliver a keynote at the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto. The event is sold out.
Ukraine’s first lady shared photos of her and Zelensky arriving in Canada on Instagram.
“Arrived in Canada. Tomorrow promises to be a very busy day with interesting meetings and useful work, and today there is some time for a walk and a dinner. Goodnight Canada and good morning Ukraine!” the first lady wrote.
Zelensky was also invited to visit the United States, but that trip has not yet been scheduled. It may take place after the July 21 parliamentary elections, according to Ukraine’s Ambassador in Washington, Valery Chaly.
